Disclaimer: All canon-based characters, situations, and plotlines are copyright to their original owners, creators, and designers. I make no profit, nor want any.
Story Title: Time For A Drink
Chapter Title: Special Occasion
Story Word Count: 2,136
Chapter Word Count: 1,090
Characters: Manjoume Chosaku, Manjoume Shoji
Genres: Family
LJ Challenge: 5drunkfics: Claim: Manjoume Chosaku, Manjoume Shoji: prompt #1, tipsy
Rated: PG-13
Notes: Please note that this story presents the older Manjoume brothers as NOT being abusive evil bastards who rape and beat their younger brother twice a day and three times on Sundays. If Chosaku and Shoji being presented as human beings and not vehicles for their younger brother's angst and woe displeases you, click your nearest back button NOW. This takes place about three months before the main GX storyline, in July of 2004. Manjoume Jun is fifteen, Manjome Shoji is twenty-one, and Manjoume Chosaku is twenty-four. While I normally refer to Manjoume Jun as 'Manjoume', because this point of view is his brother's, I will refer to him as 'Jun'. Because that's what they call him.
Summary: Sometimes, you just really, really need to have a good stiff drink. Five times Chosaku and Shoji needed one.
"Excellent work, Jun!" Chosaku praised his youngest brother, patting him on the back warmly. "We knew that you could do it." He didn't recall ever having been quite so proud of him before. Even attending the preparatory school associated with Duel Academia didn't always ensure that one would be admitted.
"Of course I could." Jun sniffed a little, pride gleaming in his own eyes over his achievement. "That test was nothing. And the practical exam was a joke. I could've won that with my eyes closed. You could have won that, Chosaku-niisan."
Given that it was Chosaku who had taught Jun the basics of how to play before he'd begun his official education, that was saying something indeed. Precisely what it was saying, neither of the two older Manjoume brothers were certain, but it was obviously a compliment. The test and duel for those who came from the prepatory school were generally considered to be twice or three times as hard as the one that lesser students had to deal with, after all.
"This deserves a treat." Shoji decided, going over to the wine cabinet. Jun turned towards him, his eyes widening a bit as his brother pulled out three glasses and some of the best wine available.
Before he could say anything, Chosaku patted him on the shoulder. "I know, you're not old enough legally yet. But this is a special occasion. It won't happen very often."
Shoji poured out the wine and handed the glasses around. "To the Manjoume Group, and future domination of the world!" All three of them clinked their glasses together, and began to drink. Jun made a face as he tasted his, but gamely kept on drinking it anyway.
"It takes a little getting used to," Chosaku told him, sipping at his with evident enjoyment. "I hardly liked it the first time I tasted it either."
He settled down into his favorite easy chair and admired what had recently been delivered to the mansion: the full uniform of an Obelisk Blue student, along with everything that someone would need to know when they started to attend Duel Academia, an accurate map of the school, and a list of all of the teachers. First year Obelisks, like all Obelisks, were allowed to watch the lesser students, the ones who would end up in Ra Yellow or Osiris Red, take their practical exams as well.
"Are you going to do that?" Chosaku asked after another drink or two, poking at the line on the list of pre-school term events that mentioned those duels. "You could see your…competition."
For a moment, all three were utterly quiet, then burst into gales of derisive laughter. If there was anyone who was going to be competition for Jun's dominance of the school, it would one of his own classmates.
"Really, an Osiris or a Ra being any sort of challenge?" Jun snorted at the thought. He was still working on his first glass of wine, and hadn't drunk that much of it either.
"Don't get too cocky." Shoji warned him. "Some of those Ras are only Ras because their parents didn't have the money to get them good enough cards or to pay for them to go to your school. They could get promoted quickly and be an actual threat. Don't let that happen."
Jun shook his head obediently. "I won't, Shoji-niisan." He was always such a good boy, doing what they told him. Without a doubt, within five years of his graduation, the Manjoume Group would have seized total control of the three major forces of the world: politics, finance, and dueling.
Chosaku eyed his little brother thoughtfully, then rang for the maid. "Bring us some sandwiches," he ordered as soon as the door opened. "And don't be all day about it."
"Yes, sir," the maid whispered quietly, bowing her head low and leaving as silently as she'd come. None of the brothers even noticed that she'd been there. That was the mark of a good servant, in their general opinion. Ambulatory furniture that could on occasion speak.
Having something to eat would cushion the alcohol, and make certain that no matter how much Jun drank, he wouldn't have that bad of a hangover. Chosaku clearly remembered his own first one, and wished that he didn't.
Tonight, he didn't really feel like getting drunk, however. Just slightly buzzed. Everything was working out quite fine at the moment. His political campaigns were at their peak, Shoji's work at the bank was without peer, and now Jun would start on the last phase of the plan.
He sipped more at his drink, admiring the outfit as it hung on the wall in the plastic cover it had arrived in. "Try it on," he decided after a few moments. Neither he nor Shoji had ever went to Duel Academia, and he wanted to know if the uniform was worthy of being worn by a Manjoume.
Jun blinked a little, as if all of his brain wasn't quite processing the way it should have been, and Chosaku decided not to give him anything else to drink. He gestured a bit abruptly. "Go try the uniform on."
That seemed to sink in, and he hurried off with the outfit towards his room. He had scarcely left before the servant returned with a tray of snacks and light drinks. Chosaku made a selection and started to eat while waiting for his brother to return. Shoji looked just a little flushed himself, a sure sign that he was edging onto the verge of being tipsy. Chosaku offered him a thick sandwich and the two sat and waited almost patiently.
When Jun returned, Chosaku glanced up and down, then looked at Shoji. "Our little brother is going to break hearts, isn't he?" He smirked just a little at the thought of all of the girls, and their potentially rich inheritances, that Jun would be able to attract. He would likely enough find one that suited his tastes before very long. If he hadn't already. He'd dropped a few words about this young lady in his class that he knew would be attending the school. Chosaku couldn't remember her name, but he was certain he would hear it again at some point.
"And spirits. With all the duels he's going to win in that uniform." Shoji added. Chosaku raised his glass and clinked it once more against Shoji's.
"To the Manjoume Group!" he declared, and Shoji and Jun both echoed it.
It was good to be a Manjoume.
To Be Continued
